Horace Greeley had it all wrong: If you want to avoid the deadliest roads in America, definitely do NOT go west. Eight of the 10 worst patches of interstate are in California, Arizona, Nevada and Texas, with the other two being in Florida. Apparently, all that sunshine induces too many people to head for the highways, helping to contribute to a higher proportion of fatalities than other areas of the country.
Here's a link to the news story on the deadliest highways, along with a state-by-state analysis of fatality rates compiled by the government.
The good news, though, is that overall, highway fatalities are on the decrease throughout the country. According to the National Safety Council, "otor vehicle deaths in 2008 achieved the lowest rate since the NSC began publishing its annual Injury Facts statistical report in the 1920s. The estimated annual death rate from motor vehicle-related crashes in 2008 was 13 deaths per 100,000 people, a 9% decrease from 2007, according to NSC data. The estimated annual mileage death rate for 2008 was 1.38 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, a 4% decrease from 2007."
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